Small Changes, Big Results

I once heard an anecdote about a group of listless otters in a zoo who were brought back to their usual playfulness simply by having someone dangle a piece of paper in their play area. It caught the attention of one or two of the otters, setting off a chain reaction until all the otters were lively again. The dangling piece of paper was a small change that brought about a big result.

In similar ways, we can stimulate our creativity with small changes in our routines and environments, which encourage our brains to make new connections among neurons. Here are some to try, even if for just a day.

• Do something on the spur of the moment.
• Try a new type of physical exercise.
• Try a different art form.
• Try a new spiritual practice.
• Rearrange a room.
• Type when you would normally write by hand or vice versa.
• Try a new recipe.
• Dress differently.
• Style your hair differently.
• Listen to a different kind of music.
• Set up a small meditation alter (or rearrange the one you have).
• Create in a different room, in a public place, or outside. (This is the one I'm using at the moment.)
• Try a new kind of bodywork, such as massage or Reiki.
• Change your working hours.
• Take the bus instead of the train, or vice versa.
• Travel on new routes when walking or driving.
• Shop at some different stores.
• Try different colors of paper and ink, and change the font.
• Change your usual order of tasks or steps in a process.
• If you are around kids, ask for their feedback on your project.
• If you have kids, find a babysitter for an afternoon.
• If you aren't usually around kids, borrow a friend's kid for an afternoon.
• Try some new essential oil aromas.
• Take a bath instead of a shower, or vice versa.
• Try taking more frequent breaks, and experiment with the length of your breaks.
• Take an afternoon off from technology.
• Call an optimistic friend you haven't talked to recently. No whiners, please!
• Create in the presence of a friend or a group as they work on their projects.
• Devise a mini-retreat for yourself.

My friend Mary Beth and I set aside several hours a week where we check in with each other by phone to declare what we are going to work on for the coming hour. Then we check in with our reports and encourage each other to keep going. It's great! With this small change, we've had amazing results over the past year. If you'd like to give it a try, email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com, and I'll do my best to set you up with a "Dig In" buddy.

Good luck experimenting with these ideas, and please let us know what happens. Remember, sometimes a change can be as good as (or even better than) a rest!

Be well,

Susan

P.S. My guided journal and inspirational card set both make great holiday gifts, especially for Law of Attraction fans! Email me at scleaver@dejazzd.com for details. Thanks!

***All of Susan's creative4life posts are copyright of Susan Cleaver.***